Teachable Moments

The holidays are a great time of year to teach children the importance of giving. While this should be taught all year round, the holidays remind us of the abundance we all take for granted. When I was a child my parents always donated food to the food pantries in the fall to help with winter shortages. My brothers and I all ...

The holidays are a great time of year to teach children the importance of giving. While this should be taught all year round, the holidays remind us of the abundance we all take for granted. When I was a child my parents always donated food to the food pantries in the fall to help with winter shortages. My brothers and I all got to pick some can goods to give away. I was all for giving anything that I myself didn't want to eat. I figured that we could live without lima beans, Brussels sprouts, and canned spinach. However, my mother wouldn't let us off that easy. After we went through and gave away the food we didn't want, we had to give away something we loved to eat. In my case, it was corn. Why would anybody give away a perfectly good can of golden nibblets corn? My mother set me straight right away. She explained that if all you give away are things you really don't want or need then you aren't giving with a charitable heart. In order for your act of charity to be genuine, it must be given from a place of love. After hearing that, I guess I could part with the corn.

We also had to go through our toys in November and give away items that were not being used. I made my daughter do this same activity, because it is ridiculous how many toys a child can receive at Christmas, given the generosity of grandparents. This made room for the new toys and gave those in need something new as well.

Children are always watching what you do and some of the best teachable moments are those that arrive naturally out of circumstance. My Dad used to pick up hitchhikers when I was a kid. Back in the 1970's, this wasn't uncommon. One Saturday when we were on our way to a matinee, he picked up a hitchhiker in pouring rain. I was less than thrilled, because this wet, dirty person had climbed in the back seat next to me. I didn't like having a stranger sit that close to me. At the next exit, Dad got out and gave the man a few dollars and took off the jacket he was wearing and handed it to him. I was watching this all. When he got back in I said, "Dad! Why did you give him your jacket?" He just replied, "Sissy, I have more jackets at home. He didn't have one." That lesson stayed with me the rest of my life. My parents are exceptionally good people. They always taught us to never turn down an opportunity to help someone.

May you have a blessed holiday season and remember to share the abundance that is yours, because to those whom much has been given much is expected.